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Friday, 28 January 2011

I've had a number of emails over the last week or so asking if I'm okay, where am I? why have I not blogged.

And I just want to let you all know I'm fine, I'm obviously still on the weightwatchers program, I'm still at my target weight.

I'm just ridiculously stressed out by Uni at the moment, Over the last few weeks I've had a number of pretty big pieces due iin and when I have myself a few days break from it, my head is simply too frazzled to coherently type.

I do have a post on tracking semi drafted and that will be the next post / update on what's happening and a few sale purchases I have.

Hopefully will be up in the next few days. We'll see.

Lots of Love,Sarah

P.S. Follow me on twitter if you're concerned about me, I'm never off it :)

Wednesday, 12 January 2011

As you know, I got introduced to propoints in last weeks class. And this week I was counting them. This post will compile mostly more impressions I've got, plus some pictures. I must say though, I'm impressed. I went to my weigh in this morning and found out I lost a pound! A lot better than I expected seeing as the only activity I clocked up this week was walking, to work and to uni, and at that it was only 9 points worth, which sounds reasonably impressive, but with the new propoints system, the activity propoints are a lot easier to accumulate.

Anyway, starting with last Tuesday. Me and Gavin had some friends over for a dominos night which consisted of, surprise surprise, dominos!

And chocolate!

I went into work on the Wednesday, a little hung over, still full of pizza to be told of my works newest gimmick. We're making weightwatchers soup. Is exactly what it says, home made from scratch. And really yummy too!

I also hit poundland this week, because it's been a while, and I wanted to see if they have any new nice munchies, and they did. These are new, and odd, but in a yummy way. You should really try them if you can, and if you don't like them, send the rest of them my way!

I spent the entire week tracking everything I ate. And I ate a lot.

I didn't actually change what I normally eat though. I thought the new propoint system would have me re-evaluate a lot of my choices. But I realised it didn't. On the discover plan I would have had my apple and yogurt for breakfast for one point. This week I have the same, just with one propoint this time. My porridge with my banana worked out to be the same in propoints as it is in 'normal discovery' points. If anything the new pro-points system has made me happier and more confident with the food choices I make. I still ate all my meals the way I used to, it all fitted into the daily point plan, then I was allowed to eat the glorious weekly points!!! So to be fair, I had way more treats than normal (see the above pictures of my Dominos pizza. Though I stress mine was a thin base with low fat cheese and a load of veg and chillis).

On to this weeks meeting! There's been loads of people in my class this last two weeks. And I got to say I love the fact that there is so many, old and new, and I loved the buzz once everyone was weighed in this week. Jackie (my awesome leader) I think said in my group alone we'd lost lost over 7 stone together collectively. And see hearing those that last week were sceptical about propoints raving about their losses. It made me squee a little. I also adored the fact that there were three different women all eating bananas in the class, and two eating apples around me. Normally I see them eat their newly purchased toffee bars (which don't get me wrong, are a staple in my own plan) or crisp like snacks, but it was so good to see people embrace what is good for them!I love that there are so many staying for the actual talk, because they are so beneficial and a brilliant motivational aid for weeks that you just don't feel so good. And I generally just like sitting in the room, surrounded by people who want to get healthy - even if they don't realise it themselves yet.

I was itching for my meeting, if possible, more than usual, and that's because a week of using the cardboard propoint finder, I was ready for ripping it up. None of the apps on my phone seem to be accurate and for some reason I can't seem to locate the official android weightwatchers propoints calculator on the android market. So I had no choice but to invest in the calculator.

Another gadget to carry around... that brings my total to a phone, two ipods and a calculator. I do love technology, I do want one of the propoint pedometers, but I don't think i have the funds for that, especially with losing hours in work. The calculator is quite good though, I can't compare it to the last one, because I never had that. But it is, as you would expect being official, very accurate and can save your points for the day as you go along which I found surprising. The buttons are odd, and you really have to press on them, especially if something has a decimal point in its values. But I'm not sure if that's just because I'm used to touch screens with my gadgets?

Something I've argued about all week with people on twitter and 'real life people' and I have to mention here is your daily points allowance. I hope it doesn't sound like I'm lecturing, but it's something that I think needs to be clarified. 29 is the minimum amount of propoints you should be eating a day. You should not be eating under it, I have talked to my leader about it and I agree with her where we think those who are under-eating must be abusing the free fruit, but 29 is the minimum amount you should be eating in order to lose weight in a healthy manner. You can still eat your 29, or more if you're on it, and all your weekly points, and still lose weight. Don't deny yourself food, there is a minimum for a reason. Make sure you meet it, and enjoy it!

Now as I said earlier, activity wise I only clocked up walking activity throughout this week. I ate all of my daily points (because you are meant to) ate all my weekly points - bar 3, and I still lost weight! 1lb to be precise!

After one week, I love propoints, and after a day of using my new calculator I must say, I love them more. I really, really was ready to rip up that cardboard wheel.

My aims for this week is to be active, I know I said that last week but I was very stressed out trying to get my MA proposal in for Monday just there, so my time was being sucked up by that. This week I have another large piece of work due but I hope I'm a little bit more organised, so hope to fit something in. I really want to do a class, for a long while I was debating in getting back to netball, but I think I'll bode better with something a little less competitive (I'm worse than Monica out of friends, I am one of the most fiercely competitive people you will ever come across) so I'm looking into some fun classes, preferably in Belfast City Center or North Belfast, I think if I habe a class to attend every week I'll be more likely to actually do it. I also hope to continue my tracking this week. Everything that I try, I track. It's the only way to lose. I'm hoping to lose at least 1lb this week to bring me back to my goal weight, then I'll start to work out how many propoints I should be eating for maintenance.

Perhaps will try get another post in this week, we'll see how it goes.Til next timeSarah xxx

PS. I love how many readers have gotten in touch with me this week, do get in contact, I like talking to people about weightwatchers / weightloss, hearing your stories and offering support! We can do it! Group support is the only way to do anything!

Tuesday, 4 January 2011

Today was my first weightwatchers meeting of 2011, and my first meeting since the 14th December when we closed up over the christmas break and I can't begin to tell you how excited I was for getting back! I was up bright and early and was (no surprises) the first one at my meeting, don't think I have the patience to watch others have get weighed before me haha. I got weighed, took some pictures of my actual meeting hall before I made a cup of coffee and sat to pour over my new folder.

It's a bigger file than my last one, but I like the design. This is the contents of it:

The meeting itself was bunged, the rows four deep where they are normally two, I think that was because people actually stayed to have the program explained, plus I imagine there are a lot of new members / 'resolutioners'. My brilliant leader Jackie was just that, brilliant. She went through the start book, generally explaining what the new program is about, how it's changed, and how to calculate new the new propoints. I won't explain the plan because if you're reading this you probably already have your new plan or will be getting it in the next week.

I just want to share my inital reactions to the plan. The first being totally overwhelmed by it, but of course excited. I have, today, had a sit down and a long read through everything, the start and enjoy were both good books, the enjoy having some yummy looking recipes. But the pocket guide is brilliant, better than anything I've had for the previous plan and will no doubt be a permanent fixture in my handbag over the next few weeks.

The tracker itself has changed too. it will take a while to get used to, and I wish it had a little option for recording my activity points each day, but I suppose I'll just have to find a nice neat place to record it myself.

The comments I heard around me today were not all as hopeful as I hoped they might, there is no longer a self picked formula to find out how many points you are allowed, instead you just have to trust your leader and it was interesting to see how most people were freaking that they were all on the same amount of daily points at the minute (29) despite their different ages, weights and activity levels. One lady I don't think wants to change plans at all which in my head is silly, weightwatchers wouldn't have changed the plan if it wasn't better for you and gave at least the same if not better results? I am, of course, all for the change, the trekkie in me screams resistance is futile! And I'm sure everyone will eventually make the switch.

Interesting observation is that there appears to be no half points in the program. Obviously this is down to rounding, but I find it interesting. A bottle of white wine is no longer the 9 points I would happily give, now it is 20. yep. 20. Thank goodness we get more daily points and the weekly points too!!!

Fruit is, of course, free. But remember to portion control because it's still calories!!! If you don't portion control your zero foods you will put on, I know, I've done it. besides, eating extreme amounts really can't be good for you can it? The nutritional values of the food we eat hasn't changed, it's just how we count it! A lady who sits near me in the meeting said she can't wait to get home and start to abuse the fruit. Really? I bit my lip at the time, but if you abuse anything that's not healthy. That's how you wound up at weightwatchers in the first place, but hopefully she'll realise that herself in the next while.

You also can not at all mesh the two plans together, but who'd want to when this new one is so obviously elite in comparison? I mean a plan that actively encourages you to pick the banana over their own brand of toffee bar is, in my eyes, beyond awesome!

Something I totally love is (in the pocket guide) the new chart for working out how many activity points you have worked out. It's so simple compared to the last program! And no wee silly slider for me to damage with overuse! (for the activity points anyway.)

Of course it isn't all rainbows, I'm not too keen on the new points finder, I really don't seem to fare too well with slidey twisty contraptions, I also liked how with the last points finder I was able to have one photocopied for the fridge at home and in work plus the original in my file and don't think I'll manage to do that this time. But then I do have my beloved phone on the android platform. Problem is, now that I've sat and played with it for a few hours, none of the apps I have downloaded from the android market place have consistantly been accurate on the new plan, I know because it is new, it will take some time to iron out the creases in the formulas. But to my awareness if I do the esource option online I can get access to an offical app on the market place, plus all the other goodies on the site. So I'm giving some serious thought to that.

I think that's all the thoughts I have right now, I'm really looking forward to the next week, learning all my new propoint values and recording them and generally making better decisions! Feeling like a new member again! I'm also, finally back running. Week one of #c25k, easing myself back in, positive there will be no injuries this year and I will listen to my body when it wants rest instead of pushing it where it doesn't want to go!

So finishing up: Expect more thoughts on this in the coming weeks and Welcome Pro-Points! I love you already!!!

Sunday, 2 January 2011

This post, will be a short one, and to be honest it's more me getting a rant out before I head back to work / uni / meetings where I will hear the usual crap about weight loss. I also expect to lose readers with this post because, lets face it, a lot of people out there don't want to hear the truth! (as a side note I don't care if you don't like my blog, I write it for me!)

I'm not entirely sure where it came from but a lot of people seem to become entirely obsessed with their weight once the calender flicks to the new year. Now I'm afraid that this post may seem like me preaching but it doesn't intend to be, what I want to do is make you think for even a moment about your own attitudes to weight loss, and also for me to vent this out so I don't overspill in work to some poor girl.

I've had a lot of people complain, in meetings, in work, on youtube, in their blogs, about how their loss isn't going the way that they want. It's either plateuing, or they are slowly putting on and what is really driving me mad is that they are blaming the weightwatchers plan. Are you people kidding me?

Does the plan ever change week on week? No. You have your set amount of points and you stick to it, adding in some activity, when you do that it works and you all know that it work. If you've tried it for a few weeks you know it, I've never known someone to not lose something on the plan. So if the plan doesn't change, what does? You've got it, it's you, your attitude to it and what you ultimately put in your mouth!

It's frustrating me even more that there are people moving plans and instead opting for other diets. Now I'm not slagging off these diets as I'm sure they do, if stuck to, make you lose weight but the reason I'm moaning in this post is more because I know that weightwatchers is a good and healthy system. It is not a diet, it is a lifestyle and it re-trains you to make proper decisions regarding your food, and most importantly in my mind, learn to control your portions.Stop blaming your system and feeling a need to move to another. You're fooling yourself.

I really, truely in my heart don't believe I ever ate all that unheallthily, I was vegetarian for a large part of my life and I constantly eat fruit and veg. My problem with weight stems from no portion control.

And that's what aggitates me about friends moving to other plans for what is obviously some sort of 'quick fix'. In order to lose weight you have just got to actually do it. No plan, weightwatchers or otherwise can make you lose weight if you don't have the mind set and determination to do it. In order to maintain weightloss, you need to understand why portion control is so important.

As a girl who tried many a weightloss program I was going to talk about some problems I encountered on other plans and why I think the weightwatchers one is elite in comparison, but I won't, instead I'm going to mention my favourite things about weightwatchers and why other plans pale by comparison.

One plan I followed, for a fee of course, basically gave you your lunch and dinner every day for as long as you paid, I lost on it no doubt, but lets face it, it was entirely impractical and quite expensive, and when I stopped all the weight came back on. I know that if I really wanted to I could have kept that weight off, but I think I'm one of those who really need a structure to make it work if you know what I mean? I think that's my biggest reason for loving weightwatchers, I can eat what I want, when I want, how I want, I just have to work out the points, and to be fair, you start to know them off the top of your head before long. You fit the plan to your own life.

Getting back to portion control, I really can't stress how important I think that this is to a healthy body and mind, you shouldn't overdo it with anything. And I've been on plans where you are actually encouraged to eat as much as one food as you possibly can. In fact I remember saying to the leader/consultant about being hungry before bed and was told I should have steamed a bag of new potatoes and just ate them. Seriously!!! it was at that moment I realised how completely daft and unhealthy that plan was and so I left to return to calorie counting. I really, really think that mindless eating is stupid, you should never eat unless you are truely hungry, not mentally hungry. Food is fuel, you should only eat until satisfied, not full, not bursting. Another thing I hated about that plan was that foods that were not zero all had a type of point value to them and you were only allowed x amount of them, I, like most women, want what I can't have, and this made them into glorious forbidden treats.

Weightwatchers obviously due to it's point system encourages you to eat correct portions, then once you've eaten your meal you realise, hell I'm not actually huingry, but satisfied and comfortable! I've also never experienced that 'forbidden' feeling either because nothing is forbidden! Just work it into your points.

But what program you follow is worthless if you are not in the proper mindset! So stop blaming whatever program you are on, throw out the sweets if you have to and wind your neck in! Diets don't work, not in the long run, only healthy eating and healthy minds work.

That's all,

Sarah.

PS. I am not paid by weightwatchers to talk about this. I did get an email a week or so ago asking would I endorce a random website (never been asked that before) but I wouldn't cus it was total crap. I'd love to work for weightwatchers though, just because they are so good! I also know that there must be some people out there who can criticise my beloved weightwatchers program, I know that no program is perfect, but I really have done this post to vent, and try get people to think about how silly they are being.

A new year post should be on the books.

And only two more sleeps til i get back to weightwatchers after the christmas break!!!